When two “Snowy Egrets” were reported in Fair Haven (NE Placentia Bay) yesterday, my mind briefly ran through the possibility that they might in fact be Little Egrets – a similar but much rarer visitor from Europe. However, busy evenings in my house don’t often allow for  time to ponder such things, and I soon moved on to more pressing issues (like getting our two young girls in bed after a raucous play date with their cousins!). No worries – Snowy Egrets are a somewhat expected straggler to Newfoundland in spring, anyways.

So when I found a text message on my phone this morning from Bruce Mactavish (who is currently away birding in the SE corner of the province) saying “Let us know if there is more on the possible LIEG”, my reaction was in three very quick but distinct stages:

1. Right … I wondered that myself …
2. Wait … what does he mean “possible Little Egret”?!?!?!
3. Crap … I gotta go to Fair Haven. NOW!

The all grey lores and two long head plumes help distinguish this Little Egret from its North American cousin, the Snowy Egret.
– Photo: Jared Clarke (Fair Haven; May 18, 2013)

I checked my email to find a message from my friend Paul Linegar saying he had seen photos of the two egrets and felt that they “might” be Little Egrets. I looked at the photo he had sent and, despite being distant and slightly out of focus, it sure looked intriguing. I sheepishly informed my (very understanding!) wife that I would have to postpone our plans for the day and hit the highway … with assurance it was only a little over an hour away and I’d be back right after lunch. In a poor attempt at penance, I hastily cooked  breakfast for her and the girls before putting the rubber to the road.

I picked up my old birding buddy Chris Ryan at a turn-off about 20 minutes out the highway and we gunned it through the rolling fog and drizzly rain all the way to Fair Haven, where we lucked into clear visibility under overcast skies. It took only two minutes to find the egret, and just a couple more to confirm it was in fact a LITTLE EGRET!! This is a species that has managed to elude me during my dozen years of birding in Newfoundland, and one I’ve been waiting for. Bingo, baby!

This Little Egret marks the 9th record for Newfoundland.
– Photo: Jared Clarke (Fair Haven; May 18, 2013)

We stayed in the area for a couple hours, watching and photographing the Little Egret and occasionally making forays around the harbour to look for its missing partner. A local gentleman told us there were still two egrets “this morning”, although I later heard that Paul Linegar had also only seen one at 8:00am. Apparently the birds have been seen flying up a small river and foraging in a small steady just upstream, so maybe it was simply hanging out up there. The man also told us that the other bird was often seen drooping its wing when standing, although it seemed to fly well. We can only assume at this point that both birds are Little Egrets, although there is always the possibility that the missing one was a Snowy. Who knows!?!?

– Photo: Jared Clarke (Fair Haven; May 18, 2013)

So … another nemesis bird off (on?) the list … and a beauty, at that! Sweet. According to my records, this Little Egret marks the ninth record for Newfoundland.